"Reason, through anguish, shall her throne forsake, / And strength of mind but stronger madness make."
— Crabbe, George (1754-1832)
Author
Work Title
Date
1812
Metaphor
"Reason, through anguish, shall her throne forsake, / And strength of mind but stronger madness make."
Metaphor in Context
Genius, with virtue, still may lack the aid
Implored by humble minds, and hearts afraid:
May leave to timid souls the shield and sword
Of the tried Faith, and the resistless Word;
Amid a world of dangers venturing forth,
Frail, but yet fearless, proud in conscious worth,
Till strong temptation, in some fatal time,
Assails the heart, and wins the soul to crime;
When left by honour, and by sorrow spent,
Unused to pray, unable to repent,
The nobler powers that once exalted high
Th' aspiring man, shall then degraded lie:
Reason, through anguish, shall her throne forsake,
And strength of mind but stronger madness make.
Implored by humble minds, and hearts afraid:
May leave to timid souls the shield and sword
Of the tried Faith, and the resistless Word;
Amid a world of dangers venturing forth,
Frail, but yet fearless, proud in conscious worth,
Till strong temptation, in some fatal time,
Assails the heart, and wins the soul to crime;
When left by honour, and by sorrow spent,
Unused to pray, unable to repent,
The nobler powers that once exalted high
Th' aspiring man, shall then degraded lie:
Reason, through anguish, shall her throne forsake,
And strength of mind but stronger madness make.
Categories
Provenance
Searching "throne" and "mind" in HDIS (Poetry). Found again searching "throne" and "reason" (7/19/2004)
Citation
See Tales by George Crabbe (London: J. Hatchard, 1812). <Link to Google Books>
Text from vol. 5 of The Poetical Works of the Rev. George Crabbe: With His Letters and Journals, and His Life (London: J. Murray, 1834).
Text from vol. 5 of The Poetical Works of the Rev. George Crabbe: With His Letters and Journals, and His Life (London: J. Murray, 1834).
Date of Entry
07/09/2004
Date of Review
06/30/2010
